Gary Martin: Hutchison’s conservative credentials

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison sought to burnish her conservative credentials Thursday when she stood in the forefront of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld Second Amendment rights for individuals.

Hutchison has said she would not run for re-election to her Senate seat. She is, however, considering a 2010 run for governor, regardless of Rick Perry’s decision on seeking a third full term.

Hutchison dismissed the notion that she is seen by some as a possible running mate with Sen. John McCain. But she joked from the Supreme Court steps that success of her friend-of-the-court brief before the Supreme Court and its 5-4 decision overturning the DC gun ban could help politically down the line.

In February, Hutchison, R-Texas, filed the brief arguing that the right to bear arms was an individual right, not a collective right under the term “militia.” The brief garnered support of 54 other Senators and 250 members of the House – a majority of Congress. All Texas Republicans in the House and half of the Democrats from the Lone Star state supported it.

Hutchison said she worried that other cities and municipalities were eyeing the District of Columbia’s strict gun ban.

And she said she moved to become so involved because “I felt this right was so important, and the crime in the District was so high.” She said she was pushed to act “by the cold-blooded killing of a policeman several years ago in the District.”

Hutchison also said she wanted to stop the watering down of the Second Amendment.

“Today’s ruling is a major victory for the rights of all Americans to protect themselves and their families,” she said.

The state of Texas also joined the fight and a majority of states calling on the court to strike down the gun ban.

A popular stance, its seems, and a great platform to launch a political campaign.